MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NAUVOO!!! (December 21, 2014)

Thought for the week:

"Dear Santa:
I would like a new Birthday Suit this year. My current one is Old, Wrinkled and Sagging.  Thanks"

"A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort."

"Black Friday:  Because only in America people trample others for sales exactly one day after being thankful for what they already have."

Merry Christmas family and friends. We can't believe we're spending our second Christmas away from family and friends.  It's lovely here compared to last years freezing temperatures and cutting winds.  We count our blessings each week when the weather makes it possible for us to travel to Canton to enjoy the saints in that small branch.  Even though the distance is long it's worth the drive to mingle among these faithful people.

This past week was slow at the temple and we continue to wonder where all the patrons are.  Hopefully the day after Christmas we'll see a lot of visitors in Nauvoo  because of the holidays.  We are suppose to get snow Christmas Eve and the few days after.  A white Christmas would be nice.

My carpal tunnel surgery went really well.  My biggest problem was putting on makeup, fixing my hair, brushing my teeth, and the hardest thing getting dressed.  There's only so much Rudi can do, or should I say I'll let him do.  This week I wore the same outfit, a button down jacket, to the temple because it was the only thing I could get on with one hand.  I also wore my white nylons to the temple so Rudi could put them on at home.  I'll be so glad to be able to wear different clothes and have makeup evenly put on.  I know, I'm very vain, but it's part of my personality and daily grooming.  Taking a shower was another joke!  That plastic bag was so difficult to keep on.  Oh, the things we take for granite!  I'm so grateful for my hands, both of them.  I must be crazy to have my left hand done on December 31st.  I figure, let's get it done all at once.  New Years Eve should be so memorable.  NOT!

My shift coordinators have been so understanding this week.  I've spent a lot of my time in welcoming positions and places where I didn't have to use my hand so much.  For those of you who have been to the temple you know a lot of our service involves using our hands in the ordinance work.  Yes, this week has been really different.  I'll be so glad to have this cast and stitches out this Tuesday.  Patience is so NOT one of my virtues.

Friday night our only time completely off we went to Burlington to dinner with the Smith's.  After dinner we stopped at Grandpas Ice Cream for the best ice cream ever.  Butter pecan makes life so much better.

Rudi and I enjoyed watching BYU girls volleyball Thursday night and see them beat Texas.  Last night they played for the national championship against Penn State.  Unfortunately they lost.  We can't wait to watch BYU football bowl game tomorrow.  We're getting together with the Bassett's to watch it and enjoy goodies.

Tonight we're going to see a Christmas program put on by the Nauvoo Stake.  Love listening to Christmas music, best way to put you in the right spirit for Christmas.

The temple will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.  On Wednesday we're having a temple missionary party.  We're meeting at the Nauvoo Visitors Center for munchies (of course) and two videos about Christmas.  Sounds fun!  Christmas Day we have a big dinner at the stake center with the site missionaries.  Love meeting with them especially since we never see them very much anymore.  All the temple missionaries are all assigned to wards and branches outside of Nauvoo.  We use to meet together on Sundays with them.

Incase you can't tell I'm (Kathy) are composing and very carefully typing this email.  Hard, but easier to do than dictating to Rudi.  My inner feelings just don't flow as easily when I'm repeating everything and correcting all my thoughts.  I really appreciate Rudi and his efforts to assist me, but it's hard to try and express how I feel to someone else.  Thanks Rudi,  you'll be doing it again when  my other hand is out of commission.

As we contemplate this past year we can't help but feel so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to serve in such a special place as Nauvoo.  We've grown in our understanding of the importance of temple work and have vowed to be regular weekly temple attenders.  Hopefully we will be able to serve in the Mount Timpanoges  Temple when we get home.  We would also love to serve another temple mission.  We have also learned the importance of searching out our ancestors and doing the temple work for them.  We also feel so blessed to serve in such a historic place where our church roots were established.  The early saints have inspired us and taught us how to be stronger and more committed to gospel principals.  Serving in Canton has strengthen our testimonies and taught us to be more involved in serving others and accepting everyone into the gospel fold.  I could go on and on but I think you get the idea.  Missions are wonderful and definitely a refining point in our lives.

 We know we owe so much success and happiness to our family and friends.   Without the support from home in so many ways we could not be as content as we are and know all is well.  Thanks to all of you, are dear friends and precious family.  Our children and grandchildren have been blessed and protected, and for this we are most grateful.  Our greatest blessing is our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, who continually watch over us and bless us with continued health and happiness.

As we celebrate this Christmas season we hope your thoughts are turned to our most priceless gift, that of our Savior.  Because of Him we can all live again with Him.  Everything else really doesn't matter.

May you all enjoy being with family and loved ones.  We love and appreciate you all.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Rudi and Kathy

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY to Tieler our oldest grandchild.  She turned 18 on December 18th making it golden.
Such a beautiful young lady inside and out.  Love her to pieces!  This is her missionary who is serving in the Philippines.  Taylor and Tieler.  Cute!

 The Deppermans who are in our Gospel Principals class.  They will now be in the temple prep class we will be teaching starting the first of January.  Great people who are planning to go to the temple very soon.  So wonderful to watch their progress and growth.  They will even say prayers in our class now.  They've come a long way.

 Thanks to Traci, Tiffini and Kristin for my Christmas present, a book full of pictures of our New York trip.  Love it!

 Some of the pictures in the book.  Love these girls.  So much fun to  be with.

 More pictures from the book.  New York never sleeps and neither did we do much!

On top of the world at the Empire State Building.

Crazy Ellie and her mom and grandma.

 Thanks again for the book, I'll always cherish it and the memories!

USELESS HAND!! (December 14, 2014)

"Christmas is canceled, Apparently, YOU told Santa that you have been GOOD this year...  He died laughing."

"Lying about my age is easier now since I sometimes forget what it is."

"Love the people God gave you because he will need them back one day."

Last Sunday we had the break the fast dinner at our cottage with the Jenkins, Terrys and Robisons.  Had yummy baked chicken, baked potatoes, salad and cranberry cake for desert.  Fun to get to know the new people who came in November.

Monday night we had a family home evening at the Pier (Restaurant) in Quincy.  Very good food and nice atmosphere on the River (Mississippi)

After we served in the temple on Tuesday we went to Ft Madison for a doctor appointment for Kathy's hand.  We waited 3 hours to see the surgeon.  The surgeon had a cancelation Friday morning so we took it.  He also scheduled the left hand for December 31, which will put her out of commission for a few weeks.

On Friday morning we went to Ft Madison for the surgery. The Ft Madison hospital was very accommodating and the surgery took less time than the Dr. appointment Tuesday.  All went very well.  Kathy had no pain.  The next morning the left hand hurt and the right hand felt very good.  The right hand had the surgery.

Dinner was brought in Friday night by the Wilson's, Temple missionaries.  Rudi went to work both shifts and Kathy stayed home to rest.

Kathy is getting very bored not being able to do anything.  Simple tasks like  brushing teeth, combing hair, putting makeup on, are a real pain. Patience is not one of Kathy's virtues.  Hopefully she does not kill me before she recovers.  She always cooks when she is bored and she cannot cook now.

We went on a big walk around Nauvoo today to work out her frustrations.  Tonight the Dallings have invited us to dinner.  Rudi is off the hook again.  Tomorrow morning the Terrys are fixing breakfast for us.  Steve Terry makes wonderful apple pancakes with apple syrup.  Can't wait!  Kathy does not fix breakfast very often so this is a treat for me since breakfast is my favorite meal.

As you can see we are being taken care of.

We still love being here.  Hope all your Christmas activities are going well.

We love and miss you all

Kathy and Rudi  (Thanks Rudi for substituting today on the email).  Not his favorite thing to do!

Marie Steve Terry, Bro Jenkins, Robisons, us at the break the fast dinner at our house.

 Same picture with sister Jenkins and no Rudi.

 Kathy after she hit Rudi, or was it the surgery that caused this?

 Monday night dinner at the Pier in Quincy. Diederich, Rich, Wilson, Terry, Ford, Dalling.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ALIVE IN NAUVOO (December 7, 2014)



Thought for the week:

"I'm not a perfect person.  I make a lot of mistakes.  But I really appreciate those people who stay with me after knowing how I really am."

"We will always be friends until we are old and senile...then we can be new friends."

"The most precious jewels you'll ever have around your neck are the arms of your children."

Tami have a wonderful birthday.  We will be thinking about you.  Eat cake for me!

Another busy week with lots of memories to remember.  We started the week with going to dinner at Texas Road House with the Terry's.  What a way to spend FHE with friends and good food.  Rudi spent the day working on fixing chairs at the temple for his P-day.  Monday is my day to wash, clean, grocery shop and catch up on correspondence.  No rest for missionaries on their day off.

Tuesday after we served in the temple I came home and baked six dozen, applesauce chocolate chip nut cookies for the Christmas Walk on Friday night.  Yes, I froze them all in my little freezer.

Wednesdays Rudi and I get to work together on both the morning and night shift.  We felt so fortunate to officiate an endowment session.  It's so good to see him once in awhile instead of wondering what floor of the temple he is on.  The engineers can be found anywhere in the temple.

Thursday night we had our pictures taken outside the temple in the dark.  Sure hope they turn out.  A fellow temple missionary took them and reassured us they would work.  We shall see(oh, me of little faith).  We may have Christmas cards and we may not!

On Friday I got to follow an endowment session, with Elder Miller before he leaves on Tuesday to go home.  On that session was a 94 year old lady who needed a lot of help.  She was so sweet and really depended on me to assist her.  It was such a pleasure to help her and see how happy she was to be in the temple.  When she got to the veil she came to my veil.  She was so excited that she was assigned to me because she felt comfortable with me.  She said how much she appreciated the help since it had been a long time since she had gone through.  Those are the choice memories of service in the temple.

Friday was the Old Nauvoo Christmas Walk.  Luckily we don't work on Friday night so we went with the Smith's to the program.  It was so fun and the music was great.  The Warsaw Jazz Band played and their chorus sang also.  The site missionaries performed beautiful songs and lite the tree.  All of the audience sang Silent Night and like a boob I sobbed through the whole song.  It's my children and grandchildren's fault.  I made the mistake of thinking about another Christmas without them.  After the program we went to the Family Living Center for hot chocolate, hot wassail, cookies, cheese and crackers, and relishes.  So much food!  We then went to the live nativity at the Old Cultural Hall.  It was very well done.  They performed this every half hour for hundreds of people.  It's a great missionary tool for visiting tourists and community people.  In many of the sites missionaries are telling stories of the early saints.  It's really a wonderful and fun activity that they do every year.

After all these activities we went to Hamilton for a Mexican dinner with our new friends the Smith's from Brigham City.  Really nice people and great temple missionaries.

Saturday is our marathon day.  We start at 6:00 a.m. and finish at 1:00.  Then home to kick our feet up, but not this Saturday.  We came home and cleaned the cottage for our Break the Fast on Sunday.  I also made two batches of caramels.  Then back to the temple at five.  We made arrangements to leave a little early from the temple so we could attend the Messiah at the cathedral.  It was so well done!  Our temple recorder, Bro. Marshal, was the conductor and our good friend Elder Miller was the tenor soloist.  They both did outstanding.  What a way to get in the Christmas spirit.  Two nights of special programs helping to bring the true spirit of Christmas into our hearts.

Today went made our trek to Canton. Today being fast and testimony meeting Sunday Rudi and I both bore our testimonies.  This little branch has become such a close part of our weekly activities.  Rudi also taught the Gospel Principals class with a little help from me.  I spent the last hour in the nursery helping out.  Pres. Depperman asked us to start teaching a temple prep class, starting the first of January.  Another new challenge for both of us.  We look forward to the challenge, I hope!

Today in about 15 minutes we are hosting three other couples for dinner.  Baked chicken please be done soon.  Hopefully it will turn out O.K.

Well friends and family I have to close and get the dinner on the table.  Have a great week!

We love and appreciate you all.

Rudi and Kathy

 Happy Birthday to our baby daughter, Tami.  Have a wonderful 37th birthday on Saturday the 13th.

 Enjoying the Christmas Walk and lighting of the Christmas tree at the visitors center, with Dale and Karen Stevens new missionaries.

 Carriage rides through the streets of Old Nauvoo.

 Nativity scene in the visitors center.

 In front of the huge tree at the visitors center.  Really wonderful program and lighting ceremony.

 Pres. and Sister McArthur at the celebration.

A TIME TO BE GRATEFUL (November 30, 2014)

 

 

Thoughts for the week:

"Don't forget to set your scales back ten pounds this week."  Thanksgiving can do that to us!

"Worrying is like walking around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain."

"I do NOT HAVE a huge house, a brand new car or lots of money.  What I DO HAVE is an amazing family and friends and memories that will last forever."

So much to be grateful for during this week of Thanksgiving.  I can't believe we've been gone for two Thanksgivings now.  Our blessings are still growing and we feel so thankful for this opportunity.

We had a wonderful week getting back into serving at the temple after being gone for three weeks.  It was so good to see all our temple friends and feel that special temple feeling you get when you serve the patrons.  Fortunately, the temple was very busy this week with a lot of visitors in town for the holiday.  Our only slow time was last night.  We work on Saturday night so we arrived at 5:00 and were ready for the six o'clock session but no one came, so the session was cancelled.  Unfortunately the same thing happened on the seven o'clock session.  Poor Pres. McArthur tried so hard to make the last session happen.  I think he would have gone out on the street and flag people in if it would have been permissible. Thus we went home two hours early.  Only a nine hour day instead of 11 hours.

Saturday morning was really busy.  Our 11 o'clock session had 45 people on it.  I worked in clothing and was busy.  Most visitors don't bring their temple clothes, they just rent them.

Friday Rudi and I went to Burlington to grocery shop and try and see a movie.  No movies that sounded interesting, so we went to dinner at Gator's and came home and crashed.

None of our kids got together for Thanksgiving.  They all went in different directions.  Tiff and family did stay home and tried their first Thanksgiving dinner with just the five of them.  She said it was different but O.K.  Troy and family went to Tremonton to spend Thanksgiving with Kristin's family.  Her brother came from Michigan, so they enjoyed visiting with them.  Traci and kids plus  Karly Castellaw went to St. George and Zion Canyon.  Super weather and fun with her high school friend Diane and her family.  Tami and family stayed in Gillette and spent Thanksgiving dinner with friends.  It'll be great to be back together for Thanksgiving when we get home.

Today was Sunday and off to Canton for our weekly time with the branch out there.  It was the smallest group ever since we started going eight months ago.  There were only 40 people in sacrament meeting.  We felt like we were singing solos.  A lot of people were out of town for Thanksgiving.  The weather is still good enough for us to travel that far. We so enjoy being with them and feeling of their sweet simple spirits.  Rudi once again gave a wonderful lesson on the importance of the temple.  We have two couples in the class preparing to go through the temple.  The Deppermans are planning to get to the temple before we leave in April.  I gave the closing prayer in sacrament and helped Rudi with the lesson.  Its all good!  I think the thing I'm impressed with the most about these people in the branch is their willingness to step up and fill in any position that is needed.  Today the  chorister wasn't there so a sister just stepped up and filled in.  Most of the branch members speak in sacrament about four times a year or more.  Two brothers just covered the administration of the sacrament because there are no priests in our branch.  Everyone just knows they are needed to make the branch function.  So wonderful to watch and be a part of.

As usual I've rattled on with my feelings.  This mission is a new awakening to us and I don't want to ever forget how it has made us feel and want to be a better person.

We hope your Thanksgivings were special and full of love for family and gratitude for your blessings.  We continue to miss you all but look forward to our reunion in a few short months.

With love always,

Rudi and Kathy Grateful Missionaries)

Congratulations and Happy Anniversary to Tami and Dan on December 7th.

 Thanksgiving dinner with all the temple missionaries.  Tons of food and fun!

 Enjoying dinner with the Smith's and many other missionaries.

Cutest table decorations!  Eatable turkey!

Its Christmas time again.  Same scene as last year but still loving our grandchildren tree and nativity.

So much to bring us happiness.  Now all I need is my family around us.

Fort Madison Bridge.  We cross it about once a week to get to Burlington.

Downtown Nauvoo.  We'll never forget this little town in Illinois.

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN...STILL REMEMBERING NEW YORK MEMORIES (November 23, 2014)

Thought for the week:

A THANKSGIVING POEM:
"May your stuffing be tasty, may your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump.  May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs."

TO BE A PUMPKIN:
A coworker asked a recently baptized lady what it was like to be a Christian.  She replied, "It's like being a pumpkin.  God picks you from the patch, brings you in and washes all the dirt off that you may have gotten from the other pumpkins.
Then he cuts off and scoops out all the yucky stuff.  He removes the seeds of doubt, hate and greed.  He then carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside of you to shine for all the world to see.  Let your light shine!"  Sister Thomas of the Canton Branch gave me this quote.  She knows I love to collect quotes.

Hope you aren't sick of my New York pictures.  I promise I'm through putting in those and will try and take some Nauvoo pictures for next week.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK.  I'm sure all of you are gearing up for my favorite holiday.  I love being with family, eating the best meal all year, and most important thinking of all my blessings.  I'm truly grateful for this past year and all the wonderful missionary experiences we've been able to enjoy.  Rudi and I still love serving in the temple and being with the best people in the world.  Everyone is so happy and loving to each other.

Our Thanksgiving will be spent with the temple missionaries.  Last year we were combined with the site missionaries but they're doing theirs on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  They work on Thursday so they've changed their plans.  We'll be eating at the Arrival Center next to the temple.  We plan on about 60 people.  I'm taking 3 pies and green bean casserole.  Can't wait for the big dinner!

Last week the temple reopened on Tuesday.  An lot of patrons came during the day.  We are now open for two endowment sessions in the morning and two at night.  All of the temple missionaries work two to three double shifts each week.  On Saturday, Rudi and I work from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00, then back again at 5:00 p.m. till 9:00.  That's right, 11 hours!  Very tired when Saturday night rolls around.  Surprisingly, the time goes by pretty fast.  I spend most of my time in the main office.  I have three shifts each week in the office, one as clothing coordinator and the rest on line.  Last week they started training me to be in the sealing office and to be initiatory coordinator.  Last week I spent more time training or being a trainee.  It's all good, just confusing sometimes.  Rudi gets to be on line as a ordinance working on Wednesday and Saturday night.  We work two shifts that day so he gets double the time serving as an ordinance worker.  He looks so cool in his white suit.  Thanks again Hugo for the suit.  Rudi and I officiated a session on Wednesday together which was special since we haven't done that together since last winter.

This Tuesday Rudi and I get to guide a couple that will be sealed.  We're looking forward to doing that together since we don't often get the opportunity to work side by side.

Today we drove to Canton since the weather is fairly descent today.  It rained all day. We're suppose to be dropping 20 degrees by tomorrow.  Then the forecast is snow this week.  President McArthur has told us to continue to go to Canton unless the weather is bad.  We love the people their and feel of the spirit so strong.  These people are so humble and loving and accepting to all.  Today one of the Y.M. who has learning disabilities spoke in sacrament meeting.  It was such a simple talk but so special to realize what a big step it was for him.  He really humbled me when he turned to the branch president and asked him what the word was on his paper.  He has a lot of disabilities but tried his hardest.  His mom is in the R.S. presidency and she just smiled through her tears of joy for him.  These people are very humble and Christ like.  They all pull their own weight and seem to be ready and welling to serve wherever needed.
Do you see why we love the members of the Canton Branch?

Right now it's pitch black outside and it's only 4:30. Not ready for another dark and freezing cold winter.  Hope this winter is warmer.  Dream on Kathy!

Well family and friends I hope your Thanksgiving is warm and full of loving family and friends around you.
We love you all and are most grateful for the Spirit of Christ in our lives.  Our family and friends make life full of blessings.  Until next week, stay healthy and happy.

Love always,

Rudi and Kathy

 Bear with me for more New York pictures.  Cold, but so fun!

 Our first two days in Manhattan were warm and wonderful.  Walking on the High Line in Chelsea.

Ellie and I walking the streets of Manhattan.

 Ellie and I at the Ground Zero Memorial Fountains.

 Oh, to die for the warm croissants!

 On the High Line enjoying the music of this friendly man who called us the Saints from Utah.

 Grandma visiting with our new found friend.  Hope you love the red coat since I wore it in every picture.

 Over looking the city from the High Line.

 
In front of the St. Devine Cathedral.

 Getting ready to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.

 Riding on the ferry from Manhattan to Brooklyn.  Beautiful look of the Manhattan skyline.

 Shopping at F.A.O. Schwarz.  So many fun toys.  We salute our shopping experience.

 Inside Dylan's Candy Store.  What a sweet lovers holiday!

Another shot at the candy store.  Children (and adults) love this colorful store with every candy imaginable.

 Yea!  My favorite place to eat and enjoy the best hot fudge sundae in the world.  Just a two hour wait to get inside.

 Check out the doughnut pillows on the wall at the Doughnuttery.  Every kind of doughnut you can think of.  Caden and Logan, you'd go crazy here!

 Don't think we sampled every place we stopped at (but almost).  Love bakeries and display cabinets.

 Ellie checking out the cupcakes and other bakery delights.

 Checking out the lobsters at Chelsea Market Place.  We did have lobster rolls that day for lunch.

 Traci and Ellie pointing out the railroad tracks on the High Line.

 What a cute mother and daughter picture.  Can't believe how tall and grown up Ellie is.

 Breakfast one morning.  Beautiful presentation!  Plus the girls make a great presentation themselves.

 Excited about the Time Square lights and glitter.

 Check this macaron wedding cake out.  Can't imagine how much it costs when six macarons were $8.00.

How much alike does this mother and daughter duo look?  Kristin and Tieler Diederich, way to cute!

 Another mother daughter duo.  Cute and so fun!

Tiffini, where's your cute daughter?  Maybe in a few years she'll be old enough to come with us.

 Enjoying lunch at Serendipity's.  Check out all the Tiffini lamps.